Only 10% of passengers pay the security charge
10.10.07
Just 10% of passengers flying out of Liverpool Airport are paying the new £2 security charge. But despite the poor take up and claims the charge has led to queues of up to an hour for those who decline the fast-track pay security queue, airport officials at claim the optional £2 tax has been well received.
Liverpool Airport became the first in the country to introduce a security charge, which entitles people to use a fast-track lane, earlier this year. The fee was introduced to help pay for the cost of implementing anti-terrorism measures, with tickets to the fast-lane bought from machines dotted around the airport.
Initially the airport planned to make the charge compulsory for all passengers. It opted for a voluntary system after a backlash from its main airlines Ryanair and easyJet, who said that their passenger fees already included a security charge.
Had every passenger agreed to pay the charge, it would have raised just under £6m this year. If the current trend continues, it will instead raise just under £600,000. Robin Tudor, the airport's spokesman, said: 'It is entirely at each passenger's discretion whether they choose to pay the £2 charge. From our point of view, it is a case of every penny counts towards the extra cost of security.'
'Liverpool is the first UK airport to introduce this type of scheme, and it is believed that many other airports may consider adopting a similar service. Initial passenger feedback has been very positive.'
The airport's largest airline, easyJet, said the low take-up was proof that passengers did not want to pay extra, while rival Ryanair said it was 'monitoring the impact the two-tier security system had.' The only feedback we have had from passengers travelling through the airport has been positive, with one reader saying she would gladly pay £2 to cut the queues at other UK airports.
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